Ten years experience of development and cultivation of winter oilseed rape hybrids in Europe based on the MSL system

摘要

Since 1996 F1 hybrid varieties of winter oilseed rape, based on the male sterility system Lembke (MSL), have been grown commercially and more than 5.5 MN hectares have been cumulatively cultivated in Europe over the last ten years. This development has been the common success of breeders, seed producers, agronomists and farmers. Altogether more than 40 MSL hybrid varieties have been released in different European countries. There have been significant improvements in seed yield, oil content, winter hardiness, plant length, straw stiffness and disease resistances against black leg, light leaf spot, downy mildew and club root. Further genetic progress in new hybrids is currently tested in the nurseries. The hybrid seed production is carried out in altemating female and male strip cultivation in suitable environments by well-trained and supervised seed producers. The hybridity levels of each seed lot are measured in field grow-out tests; all seed lots sold are well above the 90% limit. MSL hybrids grown on farmers' fields in Germany have shown a significant benefit in seed yield (mean of 11 years with 0.31 t/ha higher seed yield in comparison to open-pollinated varieties), especially in stress situations like late sowing, sowing after conservation tillage,winter damage or drought. Farmers have learnt to apply a specific cultivation technology for hybrids in contrast to OP varieties in order to make best use of the hybrid vigour and the yield security features of hybrids.